Report: With Di Maria arriving, Manchester United close in on De Jong, Blind

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With Angel Di Maria currently jetting to Manchester to tie up a record $100 million deal with United, the Red Devils plan on flying in a few more players to wrap up transfer deals before the Sept. 2 deadline.

According to a report from the Daily Telegraph, Dutchmen Nigel de Jong and Daley Blind — both of whom played for new United boss Louis van Gaal at the World Cup this summer — are set to join Di Maria and bolster United’s squad.

A potential move for Juventus’ Arturo Vidal is also in the works but the Italian side are reluctant to sale, so De Jong could come in as a contingency buy for around $14 million. As for Blind, he is likely to cost around $20 million as the versatile young Ajax star can play in a variety of positions in midfield and defense and would add some real quality to United’s squad.

If the Red Devils succeed in getting these two players signed on, in addition to Di Maria, can you call their transfer window a roaring success? I’d say so. With Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rojo on board, the addition of Di Maria, De Jong and Blind plus the culling of some deadwood means LVG will have strengthened his squad considerably. In their opening two games United have struggled with injuries but now that the treatment table is starting to empty and new faces are arriving, there should be a sense of optimism arriving at Old Trafford.

The final week of the transfer window promises to be an exciting one for United’s fan, as van Gaal also looks to move on the likes of Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez, Anderson, Shinji Kagawa and Tom Cleverley, who all face uncertain futures.

Cecilio Dominguez and Mateus Uribe each bagged a brace, and Renato Ibarra also scored as the tournament’s top team sauntered into and out of Costa Rica on Wednesday. Club America has been to seven CCL finals, and one every single one.

West Ham United will pay a visit to Dag & Red as part of the latter’s #SaveTheDaggers campaign, and the March 21 date will cost fans between $7 and $21 to see a top flight side at 6,000-seat Victoria Road.

“So please come on down to the Chigwell Construction Stadium for an additional night of football. Bring a friend, or two, or more and we can use the gate takings to help get us back on track,” reads a press release.

Dag & Red was founded in 1992 and climbed as high as League One in 2011, and plays just 2.5 miles from West Ham United’s training ground. Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle are among Dag & Red alums in the Premier League.

It’s a terrific gesture from West Ham, and is even more impressive in the United States where the growing club game is increasingly cutthroat (especially between non-synced leagues).

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AS Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco absolutely roasted his charges after i Lupi tossed aside a Cenzig Under-inspired lead to fall 2-1 at Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

Di Francesco had praise for Edin Dzeko, who assisted Under’s goal, as well as goalkeeper Alisson, but was mostly enraged by his side.

4) “The difference was that in the first half we tried to hurt them while in the second we were looking to hold on – to what? I don’t know.”

— “To what? I don’t know” is hilarious. Di Francesco’s side has posted some serious wins this season, including killing off Chelsea 3-0 at home and coming back from 2-0 to draw the Blues at Stamford Bridge. He doesn’t preach sitting back.

3) “There were far too many schoolboy errors – even by players with a wealth of international experience.”

— Schoolboy errors!

2) “I saw two completely different teams out there today. There were lots of players I should have taken off after we conceded the first goal.”

— Again, one mistake by a number of players on Facundo Ferreyra is enough for Di Francesco. He’s not just happy to be here.

1) “I can’t imagine we’d get arrogant just because we’re winning an important game. It’s not as if Roma are used to reaching the final every year.”

— When you’re willing to essentially rip an entire club’s history — Roma’s been to just two UCL quarterfinals since losing the final to Liverpool in 1984 — you’re putting your footprints in new cement.

Salzburg’s two away goals in a draw feels like a one-goal lead, and the one-goal matches are especially interesting. In the case of Atalanta, 1-0 to the Serie A side could undo Michy Batshuayi‘s first leg heroics for BVB.